VOA慢速英语2019--Who Should Climb Everest?

 

A Nepalese official says that it is time to examine the rules on who is permitted to climb Mount¹ Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.

Yagya Raj Sunuwar told The New York Times this week, “It’s time to review all the old laws.” The parliament² member’s comment comes after the deaths of at least 11 climbers this year.

Climbing Everest has been a dream for many people ever since Edmund Hillary and his guide, Tenzing Norgay, reached the top of the mountain in 1953.

Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries. The climbing industry brings in $300 million each year. Officials do not limit the number of permits the country issues to climbers.

This year, the government of Nepal issued Everest permits to 381 people, the highest number ever. Anyone can get a permit for an $11,000 fee.

A picture taken on May 22 shows a long line of climbers wearing colorful winter clothes as they make their way up the mountain. The climbers are standing³ on a snow-covered ridge⁴ with a 2,000-meter drop on either side. They are hanging on to a single line of rope.

“There were more people on Everest than there should be,” said Kul Bahadur Gurung, the general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association⁵. He added, “We lack the rules…that say how many people can actually go up and when.”

At one time, only experienced⁶ mountaineers tried to climb Everest. But the cost of such an effort has decreased. This has led more and more inexperienced climbers to try to reach the top of Everest. Nepal only requires that climbers have a note from a medical doctor saying they are physically⁷ fit. Climbers do not have to prove they have the strength or ability to perform at extreme heights.

The number of climbers who have died this season is the highest since 2015. Most of those who died are believed to have suffered from altitude sickness. The condition is caused by low amounts of oxygen in extremely high places. It can lead to severe headaches, stomach sickness, shortness of breath and mental confusion⁸. Because of the altitude, climbers have just hours to reach the top before they are at risk of having their lungs fill with liquid.

The area between Camp Four (8,000 meters) and the top of Everest (8,850 meters) is known as the “death zone.” When a climber dies in this zone, his or her body is left there. It would be too dangerous for another climber to spend their energy bringing the body down the mountain.

Eric Murphy made his third climb on Everest this year. He told the Associated Press, “Every minute counts there.” He said some tired climbers with no one to help them could take 17 hours -- instead of 12 -- to reach the top. For inexperienced climbers, that is “enough to have a profound⁹ effect.”

Among those who have died at Everest this year is American Christopher Kulish. He was from the state of Colorado. Kulish died on his way down, shortly after reaching the top. Just before he died, Kulish made it into the so-called¹⁰ “Seven Summit¹¹ Club” of mountaineers who have reached the highest peaks on every continent, his brother said.

Mohan Krishna Sapkota is secretary of Nepal’s Ministry¹² of Tourism and Civil Aviation¹³. He blamed weather, equipment and lack of oxygen for this year’s deaths.

However, he added, “In the next season we will work to have double rope in the area below the summit so there is better management of the flow of climbers.”

Mirza Ali is a Pakistani mountaineer and tour operator¹⁴ who reached Everest’s peak for the first time this month. It was his fourth time trying. He said, “Everybody wants to stand on top of the world.” But he said visitors who are unprepared for the extremes of Everest harm the mountaineering industry.

Ali added, “The more people come, the more permits, more business. But on the other side of it is a lot of risk because it is costing lives.”

I'm Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

ridge - n. a long area that is on top of the mountain

altitude - n. the height of something

confusion - n. the feeling that you have when you do not understand what is happening

zone - n. an area that is different from other area

profound - adj. very great

summit - n. the highest point of a mountain

double - v. to use two times as many

management - n. the process of controlling and dealing with something

1 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

2 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

5 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

6 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

8 confusion   

n.困惑，迷乱，混淆，混乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• His answers to my questions have only added to my confusion.他对我的问题的回答只是使我更加困惑不解。
• His unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.他的突然来访使我们完全不知所措。

9 profound   

adj.深奥的，造诣深的；深度的，极度的

参考例句：

• I give you my profound thanks for saving my life.我对您的救命之恩深表谢意。
• He has a profound knowledge of mathematics.他数学知识渊博。

10 so-called   

adj.所谓的，号称的

参考例句：

• These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
• Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。

11 summit   

n.最高点，峰顶；最高级会议；极点

参考例句：

• They climbed up the mountain and reached the summit.他们爬山，最终达到了山顶。
• The summit of the mountain is lost in the cloud and mist.山顶隐没在云雾之中。

12 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

13 aviation   

n.航空，航空学，飞机制造业

参考例句：

• Ten years ago,they began to develop the aviation. 十年前，他们开始发展航空工业。
• Pilots of large aircraft are masters of aviation.大型飞行器的驾驶员是航空学方面的专家。

14 operator   

n.（机器、设备等的）操作员；电话接线员

参考例句：

• He is a computer operator.他是个电脑操作员。
• The telephone operator connected us.话务员给我们接通了电话。